Page 2260 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 23 June 2010
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We said we would wish to actually investigate how we might appropriately consult in appropriate circumstances. Ms Le Couteur, I stand by my reservation about how the government appropriately and reasonably consults with children on the construction of a freeway. But I am happy to take advice on it.
ACT Health—alleged bullying
MR HANSON: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, it has been reported that there have been 19 complaints of bullying in ACT Health so far this year and further claims of systemic bullying in the health system. What action have you taken to investigate these latest claims of bullying across the health system?
MS GALLAGHER: There is a range of ways if people are feeling bullied when they work for ACT Health that they can pursue their complaints. I think I have been through those processes in this place a number of times. There is a range of ways people can make complaints, both within their workplace and also outside of it.
In light of some of the allegations that arose around the obstetric unit several months ago, ACT Health have brought in some workplace psychologists to work across different areas of ACT Health where concerns have been raised around the workforce environment. I can say that any complaint has been taken very seriously. Many of these matters have been handled by the chief executive herself, and reports are being provided through HR directly to her about how complaints and concerns have been managed.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, a supplementary?
MR HANSON: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, will you, for the scrutiny of the Assembly and the community, release the results of the recent ACT Health staff culture survey, and, if not, why not?
MS GALLAGHER: No, we will not, and we went through this in estimates and gave you all the reasons why. The staff culture survey actually is a very good news story for ACT Health. It shows improvements in a number of—
Mr Hanson: Is that why you’re bringing the psychologists in?
MS GALLAGHER: If I could just finish, it is a measure of staff views around the organisation across a whole level of performance indicators. In many of those areas, we have seen dramatic improvements since we started those staff workforce culture surveys. However, when staff fill out those surveys, they do so on the grounds that it is confidential—what they write about themselves, their colleagues, their supervisors will not be released. Also, there are some contractual requirements we have with the organisation that conducts them that will prevent us from releasing them in their entirety.
Those staff workforce culture surveys are not fodder for Mr Hanson to put out yet another inflammatory media release, which is his only intention in wanting to get his hands on them. They are actually a tool being used by an organisation to look at areas
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